Pukkah Punjabi | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/profile/pukkah-punjabi
Latest news and features from theguardian.com, the world's leading liberal voiceen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015Tue, 03 Mar 2015 20:06:36 GMT2015-03-03T20:06:36Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015The Guardianhttp://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttp://www.theguardian.com
What Mark Reckless said about migrants goes beyond another Ukip win | Pukkah Punjabihttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/21/mark-reckless-migrants-ukip-win-immigration
The MP’s call for repatriation shows a growing confidence among those seeking political gain from the issue of immigration – including mainstream parties<br /><br />• <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2014/nov/21/mark-reckless-wins-rochester-and-strood-byelection-for-ukip-live-reaction" title="">Mark Reckless wins Rochester and Strood byelection for Ukip – live reaction</a><p>However you want to term me – Asian, British, BrIndian or even <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/30/bengali-black-ethnic-minorities-racism" title="">politically black</a> – more than at any other time in my life I feel alienated from the country in which I was born. As someone who grew up the in the era of the “Paki-bashing” 1970s, that is a startling and depressing realisation. The poisonous terms in which the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/20/everyday-racism-immigration-debate-bigotry-ukip" title="">immigration debate</a> is being conducted have made me hesitate before venturing outside any of the UK’s big cities.</p><p>A visit to a semi-rural Oxfordshire village last month gave me an unease and a feeling of discomfort that I was unable to pinpoint as anything other than as unfriendliness until I returned home (to Willesden Green) and experienced the relief of seeing and hearing a mixture of nationalities and languages on my local high street. It’s a feeling that I know many people with non-white skin will recognise. A day trip to the Kent coast is not on the cards for me anytime soon.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/21/mark-reckless-migrants-ukip-win-immigration">Continue reading...</a>Immigration and asylumUK newsUK Independence party (Ukip)PoliticsConservativesLabourRace issuesFri, 21 Nov 2014 12:34:59 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/21/mark-reckless-migrants-ukip-win-immigrationPhotograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty‘If you were born under British rule in a former colony, as my parents were – do they have to leave too, or do they count as British?’ Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/GettyPhotograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty‘If you were born under British rule in a former colony, as my parents were – do they have to leave too, or do they count as British?’ Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/GettyPukkah Punjabi2014-11-21T12:34:59ZThe day I asked the Home Office to help me go home – to Willesden Green | Pukkah Punjabihttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jul/28/willesden-green-twitter-wind-up-immigrants
My Twitter wind-up of a billboard targeting immigrants, the same words fascists shouted at me as a child, is just the start<p>A few angry comments on social media were my first response to the Home Office campaign last week telling <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk-news/2013/jul/28/vince-cable-campaign-illegal-immigrants" title="">illegal immigrants to &quot;go home or face arrest&quot;</a>. Then I made a protest call to the company hiring out the <a href="http://wembleymatters.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/promogroup-may-not-participate-further.html" title="">mobile billboards</a>, and exchanged some tentative emails about a counter campaign in the London borough of Brent where I live. By Thursday my curiosity had got the better of me, and I texted the number advertised on the bilboards. The auto reply offered a callback in Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, English or other language. I noted the racial profiling but went to bed and thought no more of it.</p><p>The next day, just as I was looking for a distraction from my dull sandwich-at-a-desk routine, the telephone rang. It was the Home Office. Although I had no script planned, I was up for some fun.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jul/28/willesden-green-twitter-wind-up-immigrants">Continue reading...</a>Immigration and asylumRace issuesTwitterMediaTechnologyLondonPoliticsUK newsWorld newsSun, 28 Jul 2013 14:10:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jul/28/willesden-green-twitter-wind-up-immigrantsRick Findler/Guardian'These billboards – with their dark background, pictures of handcuffs and threats of arrest – are designed to be menacing rather than to offer assistance.' Photograph: Rick Findler for the GuardianRick Findler/Guardian'These billboards – with their dark background, pictures of handcuffs and threats of arrest – are designed to be menacing rather than to offer assistance.' Photograph: Rick Findler for the GuardianPukkah Punjabi2013-07-28T14:10:00Z